Applications open for the 2023 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition
Organists will compete for a first prize of $40,000 from June 20-24, 2023
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. , June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Longwood Gardens today announced that applications are now being accepted for its 2023 International Organ Competition, in which the most promising organists will compete on the Longwood organ for a prize. $40,000 for first place, the largest prize money of any organ competition in the world. The preliminary and final rounds will take place June 20-24, 2023 at the magnificent Longwood Gardens Ballroom near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Applications are available at longwoodgardens.org/international-organ-competition . Open to people ages 18-30, only the first 60 applicants will be accepted. The application period ends on November 7, 2022.
The Longwood Organ is one of the largest concert organs in the world, with 146 ranks and 10,010 pipes. Following a seven-year restoration completed in 2011, the organ has been restored to its original 1930 condition and incorporates today’s most innovative technology.
A distinguished panel of experts will judge the competition, including Peter Conte , principal organist at Longwood Gardens and organist for the Great Wanamaker Organ at Macy’s in Philadelphia; Helmut Deutsch , organ professor at the State University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart , Germany; Simon Johnson , Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, UK; Rachel Laurin , Canadian organist and prolific composer; Thomas Ospital , holder of the Great Organ of the Church of Saint Eustace in Paris; and Shin-Young Lee , a South Korean concert organ player.
The winner of the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition receives the Pierre S. du Pont First Prize of $40,000, a contract with Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists and a performance at Longwood in 2024. Second place receives the Firmin Swinnen Prize of $ 15,000 . dollars and the third the Clarence Snyder prize of 5,000 dollars. In addition, the contest offers the $1,000 Audience Prize and the $ 1,000 Philadelphia AGO Chapter Prize . The travel and accommodation of the contestants are provided by Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens is a member of the World Federation of Music Competitions.
Previous contest winners include Benjamin Sheen (UK), Joshua Stafford , (USA), and Sebastian Heindl (Germany).
About Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great gardens, encompassing 1,100 acres of gardens, woodlands, lawns, fountains and the Grand Conservatory. Longwood continues the mission established by its founder, Pierre S. du Pont, to inspire people through excellence in landscape design, horticulture, education and the arts. For more information, visit longwoodgardens.org .
SOURCE – Longwood Gardens
